External plumbing over the service entrance?

W

WHayward

Member
Location
California
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I went out to bid a job for a panel upgrade where the bathroom hot and cold water lines are run externally and are routed behind the service riser conduit and above the existing panel along the eve.

The pipes follow the eve of the house past the service riser then in another 5ft make a 90 down and enter the house 24 inches from the ground.

The customer is willing to have a plumber move the pipes, but they would still need to be on the same wall, possibly below the new panel.

What is the correct way to handle this?
I have found mention of clearance in front and above the panel, gas line clearances, but not water pipe clearances.

Thank you for your help.
 
I would ask the AHJ for suggestions. The large 60 year old 12 floor hospital that I retired from probably tripled the number of both normal & emergency panels so very often there were a sprinkler pipe, waste pipe or water supply lines 7 to 9' above new panel locations. They had a contractor make deep trough under these pipes sloped with a drain leading to the floor. Of course the rich hospital had them made with a heavy guage of stainless steel. Often thought a #10 copper ground wire should have been attached to them.
 
Can they go up higher, and maybe you drop the service equipment lower so the plumbing passes above 6’ over the service? I don’t see going under it an option, that’s still dedicated equipment space. Can they take it through the eave into the attic?
 
I spoke with a building department inspector today, she had to defer to the department manager. Not a situation she had seen before either. Waiting for a response.

This house has a very open floor plan, partisans for rooms and an open beam ceiling, no attic at all. Built on a slab foundation. Several floor to ceiling windows as well.

The existing panel is on a wall with a tile shower behind it, so I cannot completely move the electrical without a bathroom remodel.

My thought is to install a pull box at the current service panel location and run a conduit over the water lines to an area clear of the water pipes.
 
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